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HomePosts Tagged "Sikkim"
Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, India, R&D

Prem Singh Tamang, the Chief Minister of Sikkim, laid the foundation stone for the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University (SOAU)

Prem Singh Tamang, the Chief Minister of Sikkim, laid the foundation stone for the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University (SOAU) in Mondegaon, Soreng district.

According to Tamang, the Sikkim state is now the first organic state in the country. He stated that SOAU will be a centre of excellence for organic farming education.

He said that hundreds of students from the state are studying agriculture, horticulture, and forestry outside, and he has met over 500 students in Dehradun who are doing undergraduate and post-graduate courses in these subjects.

The students of Sikkim will no longer have to travel outside the state to study for the SOAU, according to Tamang.

He directed officials to identify temporary spaces for the commencement of courses at the earliest.

The Sikkim assembly passed the Sikkim Organic Agriculture University Act, 2023 earlier this year.

The varsity will also boost economic activities in the remote Mondegaon area, the chief minister said.

Prem Singh Tamang, the Chief Minister of

AgroPolicy, Climate, Environment, India, Organic, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Trade

Currently, Sikkim grows organic farm produce worth Rs 8 crores and it will grow up to Rs 8000 crores gradually by 2030

Sikkim is India’s first 100 per cent organic farming state and the government is planning to export agricultural organic produce from Sikkim, currently, Sikkim grows organic farm produce worth Rs 8 crores and it will grow up to Rs 8000 crores gradually by 2030, said Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Textiles and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, at the Asia Economic Dialogue in Pune.

Pune International Centre (PIC) a Pune-based think tank and Ministry of external affairs has organised Asia economic dialogue a three days conference. Experts from various fields participated in the forum.

Goyal said that to Sikkim make organic farm products export hub, the government plans to set Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Authority (APEDA) unit in Sikkim.

He said, “While the developed world is the largest contributor to climate change, they are preaching to us today about what we should be doing despite us being only 2.5 per cent of contributors to carbon emissions. The government has focused on addressing climate change as a responsible global citizen. We are promoting circular economies so that we recycle our waste. We are among the top five performing nations in addressing climate change goals. We are also promoting products like sustainable textiles.”

Currently, Sikkim grows organic farm produce worth

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Dairy, Organic, Start ups, Sustainability

Discussions were held on prospects, challenges, technologies and strategies 

The ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Meghalaya recently organised a two-day National Conference on “Agri-Start-Ups: Prospects, Challenges, Technologies and Strategies (AGRiPACTS – 2022)” at Manan Kendra, Gangtok, Sikkim.

The conference focussed on agri-business ecosystems, potential technologies, IPR technologies and commercialisation, challenges faced by ecosystem builders and agri startups and convergence among stakeholders.

The Chief Guest, Lok Nath Sharma, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Service, Government of Sikkim highlighted the importance of organic farming and initiatives for the highest purity standards to create opportunities and demand for the agricultural products from Sikkim to the other parts of the country and globe. The Government of Sikkim’s initiatives for the widespread marketing opportunities and self-sufficiency achieved in milk production were also underlined by the Minister.

The Guest of Honor, Prof Avinash Khare, Vice-Chancellor, Sikkim University, Sikkim emphasised the branding of the agricultural products and processed items from Sikkim for marketing for sustainability and income generation of employment.

P Vaiphei, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur outlined the importance of developing Entrepreneurs in agriculture particularly, in organic products.

The need for the product development and issues of quality at start-ups / Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations and Entrepreneurs to reach customer level through networking was stressed by Dr K Srinivas, ADG (IP&TM), ICAR.

Earlier, Dr R Laha, Joint Director, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre delivered the welcome address.

More than 500 participants from all over the country including 70 Scientists / Venture or Business Experts; 75 office bearers/members of farmers’ producers’ companies / Organizations (FPCs / FPOs); 20 successful agri-start-ups and 120 state officials from all over the North-East Region, etc., participated in the conference.

Discussions were held on prospects, challenges, technologies

Acquaculture, Agro Universities

Discussions were held on fishery-based integrated farming system

The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Kolkata Centre recently organised a three-day skill development programme on “Advances in Freshwater Aquaculture” under Tribal Sub Plan. The programme was jointly organised in collaboration with the ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim, Ranipool and Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Sikkim, Gangtok, Sikkim.

The Chief Guest, N Jaswant Singh, Director, Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Sikkim underlined the different government schemes for fisheries development in Sikkim. The need for the recirculatory aquaculture system and the value-added fish products from organic farming in the state was stressed by Singh.

Dr Ramgopal Laha, Principal Scientist & Joint Director, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre emphasised the fishery-based integrated farming system.

CS Rai, Additional Director, Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Sikkim highlighted the major diseases and common problems of the fish culture in the State. The ways for better management practices were also suggested by Dr Rai.

The KVK also held the “Farmer’s-Scientists’-Interaction Session” during the occasion.

Around 12,000 fingerlings of Amur Carp along with 1,540 kg fish feed and 1,250 kg lime were distributed to the farmers during the programme. The programme registered participation by 50 farmers.

Discussions were held on fishery-based integrated farming

AgroPolicy, Agrotech

The technology will support in enhancing productivity even in small private landholding and ensure financial benefits for the farmers

The Government of Sikkim has announced to launch modern farming technology of Hydroponics, Aquaponics and Rooftop farming in the state on February 22, 2022. The launching programme is scheduled to be held in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang at Sokeythang, Gangtok. This was informed by the Minister, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Lok Nath Sharma while addressing a press conference held at the Training Hall of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Sokeythang.

The Minister highlighted the objectives and purpose for launching the newly developed farming technology of Aquaponics, Hydroponics and Rooftop farming. The technology will support in enhancing productivity even in small private landholding and ensure financial benefits for the farmers, he stated.

Sharma said that hydroponics is the technique of growing plants without soil by using organic nutrients. It would be very beneficial for farmers because it assures higher yield and economic returns compared to natural agricultural practices, because of higher number of harvest cycles. Aquaponics is an integrated food production system that combines raising fish in tanks with soilless plant culture. The nutrient -rich water generated in the procedure while raising fish provides natural fertiliser for plants and these plants help to purify water for the fish.

He informed that the concerned departments have developed four different models of Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Roof top farming of both low cost and high-cost green house at designated premises. The models will remain open for interested individuals to explore wherein the technical experts will guide and educate visitors about the procedure, benefits, structural set-up after scheduled launching of Hydroponics, Aquaponics and Rooftop farming. Besides, the department will provide essential technical support and guidance. An absolute mechanism will be developed to ensure quick response to queries and grievances of the people, he added.

The technology will support in enhancing productivity

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Supply Chain

Discussions were held on horticulture, medicinal crops and natural farming

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kishan Reddy recently hosted a virtual meeting to take stock of various schemes of the Government of India in the sector of the North Eastern Region (NER). Agriculture ministers of the North-Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura discussed the issues and challenges they were facing in detail.

Union Minister of State for DoNER, BL Verma,. Ministers for Agriculture of all the eight North Eastern States accompanied by the Secretary, DoNER, Agriculture Secretaries from the NER states with senior officials also marked their presence.

Tomar in his speech quoted, “Our door is always open. I request all the state governments to come up with a proposal if you find any difficulty in any schemes related to the agriculture sector.” He said that about 9 lakh hectare land in the North East is well suited for oil palm production as it has the potential to benefit farmers at large. 

He also talked about horticulture and medicinal crops which are grown only in North-Eastern State. He said that Agriculture and Commerce Ministry are working together to tap such opportunities and to solve the logistic problems faced by the North Eastern States.

The minister urged the state governments to pay attention to natural farming.

Officials from Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Regions (MOVCDNER); National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP); Bamboo in North East Region and the mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) made presentations regarding various schemes.

Discussions were held on horticulture, medicinal crops